AA Playoffs get going with quarterfinal play

BISMARCK -- The playoffs kick off this Friday, Nov. 1 with the quarterfinals. The AA field features three rematches from earlier this season and one first-ever meeting of teams. G.F. Red River, the East Region’s top seed, is the lone unbeaten among the field of eight and a strong contender for a state title. Minot North is making its playoff debut and is also a No. 1 seed.

(4W) Bismarck St. Mary’s (5-4) at (1E) G.F. Red River (9-0)

How they got here: St. Mary’s finished fourth in the AA West Region standings with a 3-2 record while G.F. Red River won the AA East Region with a 5-0 mark. 
Last meeting: Aug. 30, G.F. Red River 41, St. Mary’s 7
About St. Mary’s: The Saints needed a victory in their regular season finale against Dickinson to reach the playoffs and had a strong performance on both sides of the ball. The competition this week gets a lot tougher, however.
St. Mary’s returned to the AA division this season after spending the past two years in AAA. The move back proved fruitful as the program posted a winning record and returned to the postseason. The Saints have struggled at times with consistency on offense, in part, a result of some key injuries. The team’s offensive attack is fairly balanced. SM has 2,475 yards of total offense (1137 rushing-1338 passing). Jacoby Grimm stepped into the QB spot for Charles Richter, who was injured. He has 513 yards on 46 completions. The team’s leading receiver Brady Ruggles (17 receptions for 356 yards) is out for the rest of the season due to an injury. Beckett Price (20-188 yards); Aeyden Price (17-177 yards) and Dominic Zander (16-171 yards) have helped to fill the void. Beckett Price’s 532 rushing yards on 87 attempts leads the team. David Vetter is second with 274 yards on 56 carries. Time of possession will be critical for the Saints. They can’t allow the Roughriders offense to have the multiple possessions.
About G.F. Red River: If there is ever a season for the Roughriders to win a state championship, it may be this one. For the first time, the program went undefeated in the regular season and its nine wins is the most since amassing 10 wins in 1987. The program has enjoyed success since moving down to the second division in 2021. Red River has qualified for the playoffs in all four seasons. However, its only reached the semifinals once. 
The team has plenty of experience. Pearce Parks is one of the top offensive players in the state. The QB has thrown for 1,575 yards, completing 116 passes and throwing 14 TDs. The main receiving target has been Cameron Klefstad. He has 545 yards on 31 catches. Carter Flom had 338 yards on 33 catches. Daniel Severud has 239 receiving yards on nine receptions. In the run game, Thomas Kraft is the workhorse. He has 845 yards on 125 carries and 15 TDs. Red River is averaging 34.6 points per game and committed just 10 turnovers.
A stout defense may just be the most impressive part of the Roughriders’ game. They have allowed an average of just 176 yards of total offense and six times have given up seven or less points a game. 
Final kicks: The last time St. Mary’s and Red River meet in the postseason was a first round game in 1995 (St. Mary’s won, 48-0)...St. Mary’s is 7-3, all-time, vs. Red River, but the Roughriders have won the last three meetings.

(3W) Jamestown (5-4) at (2E) West Fargo Horace (7-2)
How they got here: Jamestown finished third in the AA West Region standings with a 3-2 record. WF Horace was second in AA East Region with a 4-1 mark. 
Last meeting: Sept. 20, Jamestown 14, WF Horace 12
About Jamestown: Few teams have been in as many big games in AA play over the past few seasons than the Blue Jays. Jamestown won back-to-back state titles (2021-22) and came within a point of a third-straight trip to the Dakota Bowl a season ago. The squad is unbeaten in its last four AA quarterfinals.
This campaign has been up and down for the blue and white. It began with two wins followed by three losses and then three victories over the last four games. The ’Jays have a good core of players who were part of those past playoff teams.
Jamestown’s offense has been fairly balanced with a tilt toward passing. QB Ryan Kallenbach has thrown for 1,481 yards on 118 of 201 passing and 10 TDs. A pair of receivers have over 300 yards. Caleb Schiele has 347 on 37 catches while Max Rittenbach has hauled in 18 passes and 319 yards. Nate Walz (23-274) and Jackson Jarrett (15-218) are also key contributors.
Kellan Harstad’s 709 yards on the ground leads the team. So is his 149 carries and seven scores. Liam Frey has chipped in with 294 yards on 63 attempts. Defensively, Jamestown has been solid. It only gave up 12 to a good Horace team in week two.
About WF Horace: The Hawks are making their second-straight playoff appearance and put together a seven-win regular season. Six of its regular season games came against playoff qualifiers.
The Hawks may have the best defense in AA. The team has allowed 684 total yards in nine games. That’s just 75 yards of total offense per game. A big reason for that is a solid line and athletic playmakers. The team has 29 sacks and 15 interceptions.
On offense, WFH has amassed 3,460 yards of total offense. They average 220 yards on the ground and 163 in the air. QB Taylor Stefonowicz threw for 1,186 yards, completing 86 of 126 attempts and 13 TDs. The go-to receiver is Aiden Green who has 446 yards on 28 receptions. Three others players – Mason Johnson, (273 yards), Brett Livingston (266) and 
Israel Bauer (230) are quite capable playmakers. In the backfield, Ty Geray rushed for 1,134 yards on 156 carries and 13 TDs. Five times the Hawks have scored 30 or more points in a game.
Final kicks: Jamestown has won 2 of the 3 previous meetings...WF Horace is 4-0 at home.

(4E) Devils Lake (5-4) at (1W) Minot North (7-2)
How they got here: Devils Lake finished fourth in the AA East Region standings with a 3-2 record. Minot North, meanwhile, won the AA West Region with a 4-1 mark. 
Last meeting: This will be the first-ever meeting.
About Devils Lake: The Firebirds return to the AA playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season and will try and advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2017. After a season-opening loss to Division A Central Cass, DL won three in row, including victories over playoff teams Valley City and Jamestown.
DL has adjusted to a new signal caller over the past three weeks. Mason Palmer threw for 1,088 yards and 94 completions in the first six games, but has been out with a fractured arm. Talon Gregory has stepped in. He has completed 15 passes for 184 yards. Oliver Wirth has been the go-to receiver. He as 442 yards on 33 catches and four TDs. Weston Nelson has 211 yards on 15 receptions and three TDs. Bryar Exner is the leading rusher with 533 yards on 110 carries. Will Heilman has 240 yards on 72 carries. It’s likely the Firebirds will lean on its ground game against the Sentinels. Defensively, DL has allowed an average of 23 points per game. 
About Minot North: The Sentinels inaugural varsity campaign has already been a success. They have won the region title and earned the school its first-ever postseason appearance and will be hosting its first playoff game. However, the team knows it is in a great position to earn a few more “firsts”. 
The Sentinels are at their best when they can run the ball. The team averages over 222 yards a game rushing and has a dominant back in Christian Deadmond. He has 847 yards on 112 carries and 10 TDs, but the ground game is not limited to just Deadmond. Cole Richeson (40-310) Brayden Blikre (57-294) and Evan Berg (53-219) had regular carries. However, North isn’t just a one-dimensional offense. QB Blikre threw for 955 yards with 57 completions. Josia Jaquinet led the team with 436 yards and 18 catches. Berg reeled in 13 catches for 134 yards. Defensively, the team has been solid, allowing seven or less points in five of its games. The North defense allows an average of 247 yards of offense and seems to play its best in the second half, where it has allowed just 34 points after halftime. A win over the Firebirds would enable the squad to host a semifinal game.
Final kicks: The Sentinels have not allowed a third quarter point this season...The five regular season wins was Devils Lake’s most since the 2017 season.

(3E) Wahpeton (5-4) at (2E) Valley City (4-5)
How they got here: Wahpeton ended up third in the AA East Region. Valley City, meanwhile, finished second in the AA West Region standings.
Last meeting: Sept. 13, Wahpeton 31, Valley City 27
About Wahpeton: After a one-year absence, the Huskies are back in the AA playoffs. Wahpeton will try and win its second game of the season at Hanna Field. 
The team has a solid offense which has demonstrated it can move the ball down field on the ground and in the air. Treyton Mauch gained 1,022 yards on 145 carries and 13 TDs thru eight games. No other Wahpeton player carried the ball more than 19 times. So when the Huskies run its a strong bet No. 44 is getting the ball. When the team does throw, QB Bjorn Kubela has been steady in the pocket. He completed 109 passes in 178 attempts for 1,530 yards and 15 TDs thru eight games. The primary target has been Jackson Devries, who reeled in 32 balls for 600 yards and four TDs in eight games. Braydon Steffes is also a capable receiver. He had 491 yards and led the team with 37 catches and five TDs. 
Postseason success will be linked in part to Wahpeton’s defensive performance. A better job of forcing third down and long situations will be key to getting off the field will help their chances at a road win.
About Valley City: The Hi-Liners switched from the East to the West Region this season to provide balance in the two AA regions. The change proved to be a good one. Despite a 4-5 overall record, VC earned a home playoff game for the first time since 2017. After a sluggish start, the Hi-Liners got on track winning four in a row, two coming by two points or less. However, injuries have taken its toll over the past couple weeks. The team lost its top rusher (Caden Amman) along with its starting center, noseguard and three linebackers. The injuries have required moving personnel into new positions and calling on some reserves to play bigger roles. However, it’s a new start. Valley City’s top athlete is QB Bryson Heck. He’s thrown for 1,453 yards and completed 92 passes and 12 TDs. He is also able to use his legs to scramble for yards. A trio of receivers have been good options down field. Derek Shape has 396 yards on 21 catches. Corbyn Powell has 17-353 yards and Koltyn Grebel has 23-287 yards. Kaleb McClaflin is the top remaining rusher with 229 yards through six games. VC was held to just six points in the first half of its last two games. Getting off to a better start will be critical against Wahpeton. Also, can the Hi-Liners have success running the ball. 
The first meeting between the teams went down to the wire as Wahpeton converted a five-yard TD pass with under a minute to play for the 31-27 win.
Final kicks: Valley City is the only playoff team with a losing record...This will be the teams’ first-ever playoff meeting...The Huskies last playoff win came in 2014.

Photo: Minot North vs. St. Mary's